Bus-bar-supporting structure



oct. 3o, 1923. 1,472,154

J. M. BROWN BUS BAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE W4 MM h ATT'oRNl-:Y

Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,154

J. M. BROWN BUS BAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. v3,1, 191e 2 sheets-sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR ffpa/mm/ Jamai M raw/z ATT'ORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. BROWN, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

BUS-BAR-SUPPORTING STRUCTURE,

Application filed December 31, 1918. Serial No; 269,131.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. BROWN, a citizen of the United States', and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the count of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bus-Bar- Supporting Structures, of which the followin 1s a specification.

y invention relates to supporting devices and particularly to means for supporting bus-bars or similar conductors.

One object of m invention is to provide a device of the a ove indicated' character that shall so yieldingl support a bus-bar or bars as to automatica ly compensate for the expansion forces caused by heat and thus prevent damage to the structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a bus-bar compartment having opposite anchoring or attaching means in the walls thereof, means for accurately aligning a bridging bus-bar-supporting device between said attaching means, regardless of discrepancies in the opposite relation of the latter.

In practicing my invention, I provide insulators, preferably of the pillar type, that extend in alinement and towards each other from the opposite walls of a bus-barv cornpartment and are connected to the bus-bar or bars by a ieldable joint. Means is also rovided, at t e points of attachment ofthe insulators to fixed bolts in the walls of the compartment, for shifting one or both of the cooperating insulators until they are accu rately aligned and in proper relation to the bus-bar.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation and with parts broken away, of a bus-bar-insulating support constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the same takenat right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of certain c amping or holding members of the structure that are attached to the walls of a bus-bar compartment; Fig. 4 is a view, Similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of support embodyin my invention and Fig. 5 is a view, partial y in section and partially in 'members 1, and thehalves of the rings 3 to each other, by co-operating bolts 6, that extend through apertured lugs 6 on the memb'ers 3, and nuts 7. The rings 3 are each provided with radially projecting arms 8 and'8fA having slots 9 and 10, respectively, for cooperating with bolts 11 that are rigidly secured in the walls 2. The slots 9 are elongated radially with respect to the axes of the insulators 1 and the slots 10 are arcuate and elongated at right angles thereto. As shown in Fig. 3, the slot 9 in one of the rings 3 is disposed opposite the slot 10 in the other of the rings 3, thereby permitting the rings to be shifted to different positions, within limits, on the surface of the walls 2, for adjustment with respect to the bolts 11, and permitting the same to be rigidly secured in position by nuts 16 when accurately adjusted.

The halved members 5, somewhat similar to the members 3 but having longitudinal projections 12, are secured together and to the insulators 1 by means of bolts 13 that extend through apertured lugs 13 and have co-operating nuts 14. The projections 12, of the respective members 5, overlap longitudinally and vhave flat transverse surfaces 15 against which the bus-bars 4 rest, the latter being held in position by complementary plates 17 having elongated slots 18 for the reception of bolts 19 which are provided with co-operating nuts 20. This construction provides a secure mounting for the busbars and, by permitting relative slippage between the bus-bars and the projections 12, provides a yieldable joint between the insulators l and the bus-bars 4 to prevent damage to any of the structure by reason of expansion forces caused by heat.

In Fi 4, a member 21, having a rectangular mid-portion 22 and threaded end portions 23, takes the place of the projections l2, in Fig. 1, and is secured, by one of its threaded ends, to an interiorly threaded sleeve 24 that is suitably attached to one of the insulating members l. The member 21 is provided, at its other end, with a nut 25 that loosely impinges against a resilient member 26 of loop or other shape that constitutes a part of, or is attached to, a cap or clamping member 27 suitably secured to the other ofthe insulators l. ment between the members 25 and 27 compensates for the expansion forces caused by heat.

While I have shown and described particular forms of my invention, many changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. A switchboard structure comprising a bus-bar, supporting means therefor, and means secured to the bus-bar for mounting the same in position and relatively movable with respect to the supporting means to compensate for temperature changes.

2. The combination with an insulator and a conductor, of a terminal member mounted on the insulator and having a portion eX- tending to a position beside the conductor, and a floating clamp for holding the conductor frictionallly movable against said extending portion to compensate for temperature changes.

3. A switchboard structure comprising two aligned and spaced insulating members, supporting means therefor, a bus-bar eX- tending transversely with respect to, and disposed intermediate, -said members7 a metal member on the adjacent end of each insulating member and having a projection extending towards said bar, the said projections overlapping each other longitudinally and engaging said bar, and means for holding said bar against said projections, whereby yieldable supporting means for said bar is provided to compensate for variations in temperature.

4. A switchboard structure comprising two aligned and spaced insulating members, supporting means therefor, a. bus-bar extending across, and intermediate. said members, a metal member on each of the. adjacent ends of said insulating members. holding means for said bus-bar, and members cooperating with said holding means and said metal members to provide a yieldable joint for connecting said bar and said insulating members.

Relative move-4 5. A switchboard structure comprising a bus-bar and adjustable means for supporting said bus-bar in a predetermined position, said means automatically compensating for temperature changes in said bar by moving relativel thereto.

6. A switc board structure comprising an insulator, a member mounted thereon, a ybus-bar and a floating clamp for holding the bar in relatively movable relation to said member to compensate for temperature changes.

7. The combination with an insulator and a pair of conductors, of a terminal member mounted on the insulator and having a portion Aextending to a position between the conductors and a floating clamp for holding the conductors in frictionally movable spaced relation against said extending portion to compensate for temperature changes.

8. A switchboard structure comprisingl a supporting base member, an insulator and means for supporting the insulatory on the base member and permitting limited angular adjusting movement of the insulator in aplane parallel to the adjacent supporting surface of the base member.

9. A switchboard structure comprising two aligned insulating members, a support? ing member at one end of each of said insulating members, said supporting members each having a radially-elongated slot at one side and an arcuate slot elongated at a right angle thereto at lthe other side, bolts extending through said slots, and means for attaching a bus-bar to 4said insulating members.

10. A switchboard structure comprising two aligned insulating members, a supporting base at each of the farthest-removed ends thereof, substantially-opposite attaching means rigidly secured to said bases, and adjustable means for securing said insulating members to said attaching means, said adjustable means permitting said insulating members to be adjustedv to accuratelyaligned relation, regardless of discrepancies in the opposite relation of said attaching means.

l1. A switchboard structure comprising an insulating member, a support-ing member, and adjustable means for securing said members together, said adjustable means permitting said members to be transversely relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insulating member.

l2. A switchboard structure comprising an insulating member, a. supporting member and adjustable means for securing said members together, said adjustable means having angularly related guiding and holding portions permitting said members to be transversely relatively movable.

13. A switchboard structure comprising and means for mounting said bar relatively movably with respect to means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th dey of Dec.,

JAMES M. BROWN.

said supporting l l0 

